republicans have yet to land a top recruit to run against the popular democrat. >>> president obama welcomed recipients of the 36th annual kennedy center honors for the white house. this year's recipients are carlos santana, herbie hancock and billy joel along with martina arroyo and shirley maclaine. >>> that's going to do it for your morning dish of scrambled politics. joining me from washington for our first look at politics is washington post reporter david nakamura. david, good morning. >> hi. >> let's start with joe biden and his trip to asia. i know you were a pool reporter on that so welcome home. >> thank you. good trip. >> what exactly was the vice president able to accomplish? >> well, i think there were two things that really were foremost for the obama administration. one there is a stirmish between china and japan over islands in the east china sea. a big problem for international security. joe biden met with both the prime minister of japan and the president of china and said he made clear to china he wanted them to sort of roll back an air defense zone that china established